EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF A THERAPEUTICPROPHYLACTIC COMPLEX ON PULP MINERALIZATION INDICES IN RATS UNDER PESTICIDE EXPOSURE

Abstract

Pesticide exposure, particularly the use of the synthetic pyrethroid α-cypermethrin, can adversely affect the mineralization processes of tooth hard tissues, intensifying the carious process. Excessive consumption of refined carbohydrates further exacerbates this issue by stimulating tissue destruction and suppressing the remineralizing potential of the dental pulp. This highlights the need for developing effective therapeutic-prophylactic complexes capable of correcting the negative impact of pesticides and a cariogenic diet. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of a therapeutic complex of preparations on pulp mineralization indices (the activities of acid and alkaline phosphatases) and the development of the carious process in rats under prolonged pesticide exposure. Materials and methods. The study involved 40 Wistar rats, one month old, divided into five groups: an intact group; a group on a cariogenic diet; a group receiving α-cypermethrin orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg; a group on a cariogenic diet and α-cypermethrin; and a group on a cariogenic diet, α-cypermethrin, and the therapeutic-prophylactic complex. The experiment lasted for two months. Upon completion, acid and alkaline phosphatase activities, as well as the mineralization index (the ALP/ACP ratio), were determined in the rats’ molar pulp. Research results. It was found that the combined action of α-cypermethrin pesticide exposure and a cariogenic diet produces the most pronounced destructive changes in the dental pulp, manifested by increased acid phosphatase activity, decreased alkaline phosphatase activity, and a significant reduction in the mineralization index. The use of the proposed therapeutic-prophylactic complex led to normalization of the pulp’s enzymatic activity and effectively prevented the development of the carious process induced by prolonged pesticide exposure and a high sugar content in the diet. Conclusions. The developed therapeutic-prophylactic complex of preparations proved highly effective in reducing the harmful effects of α-cypermethrin and a cariogenic diet on the rats’ dental pulp, improving the mineralizing function and reducing the risk of caries. The study results provide a basis for recommending this complex for the prevention of mineralization disorders under pesticide exposure conditions.